The Valley Campaign of 1862

This is the first part in a three-part vacation video of a three-day tour of Stonewall Jackson's 1862 Shenandoah Valley campaign. The tour was led by renowned Civil War guide, Ed Bearss in June of 2008.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Stonewall
• Jackson
• Ed
• Bearss
• Shenandoah
• Valley
• 1862

[charactereduc]

Yep. Ed ought to be the one driving "The Straight Talk Express." A friend recently told me that when a Gettysburg tourist asked Ed why Dan Sickles is the only Union corps commander without a monument there, Ed replied, "Hell, the whole damned place is a monument to Sickles!"

[DennisfromDC]

I had the pleasure of a Bearss tour of Drainesville, Balls Bluff, and Monocacy. It was really interesting but it was so damn hot outside that day. I really liked Drainesville since its right in the neighborhood I grew up in.

[williesdad2002]

Either your friend misheard Ed, or you misheard your friend. It was Sickles himself who said "the whole damned place is my monument!" when he was asked when he would be getting his own monument. I've heard Ed tell that story, and he (a) would never make that mistake, and (2) is no fan of Sickles, for good reason.

[BenAliGtor]

Then there's his:

"Leonidas K. Polk. Episcopal bishop. Confederate general. Military genius....he..was...NOT."

[BenAliGtor]

My favorite Ed quote: "The Vickburg Campaign of Ulysses S. Grant makes the Valley Campaign of Thomas Jonathan Jackson look like a picnic in the park with the Little Sisters of the Poor!"